What is the best boat to buy?

[le chat beaute]

I have a privilege 42 for sale. Well found and ready to go anywhere.under 200k

[Augi]

Originally Posted by stargate

Have a look at 67ketch.com . Looks like a lot of boat for a good price? Just my thoughts.

Thanks for the suggestion.

If she is overall sound and in good working order I agree it is a good price for a lot of boat.

I have not completely ruled out something like her. We will see in 12 months.

I think she is probably more boat than I want. Expensive to maintain, store for 6-8 weeks of use a year. I am a novice sailor and would probably need a crew of 3 to sail her to get her potential out of her.

My thinking at the moment is work from the other direction. In other words see how small and less complicated a boat can work for me. That approach is complementary to where I am as a sailor, minimizes hassles, and probably will result in more time on the water actually sailing instead spending time finding / depending on finding crew, fixing and maintaining the boat, etc., etc.,

Part of that is I am not based local to where I am going to be sailing. That adds complexity, adds more hassle factor that likely further results in less time on the water sailing a big complicated vessel versus a small, much lower maintenance type vessel.

Since we are already down the rabbit hole checkout this baby:

62' Custom Ketch Yacht For Sale - Rubicon Yachts

If the boat above with a ferro cement hull is sound and has half decent performance with her 53,000 tons of displacement she is a hell of a deal at an asking price of $190K.

I am not sure it is possible to find out if the hull is sound other than putting holes in her. Next question is how well does she perform in all different situations with that huge displacement and only 150 HP engine? Look at the height of the mast. That is some huge amount of sail you are going to have to manage.

Of course you could just park her in California somewhere and live on her and take her out a couple of times a year. She is less expensive than the average house in California. Or better yet park her in Mexico where labor is cheap and hire 1-2 people to keep her ship shape.

[Augi]

Originally Posted by le chat beaute

I have a privilege 42 for sale. Well found and ready to go anywhere.under 200k

I am 12 months away from buying. Otherwise I would suggest you send the details.

[Augi]

Originally Posted by Augi

What is the best boat to buy per the following parameters:

1. Budget of $300K(or less), including refit or repairs if buying used boat. Will sell boat after 5 years, so buying a boat that will depreciate less is a plus and cost less to own is a plus.

2. Boat will be based at Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, Ca, to have easy access to sail the Channel islands National Park a week or two at a time.

3. Every other year will move the boat to La Paz, Mx and back. For sure I will sail the boat south and is a plus is if the boat is comfortable enough and, stout enough to handle the trip north including if conditions dictate the best route is sailing enough west with wind on the beam so when you make the right turn the wind can be kept more or less on the beam and lay for Ensenada or San Diego. If not, trucking from northern end of the Sea of Cortez to Ensenada is the alternative to sailing the 1000+ miles north.

4. Will always have 2-3 crew total on board including me.

5. I will be sailing 8 weeks a year usually 1 week at a time and for no more than two weeks(so my wife does not divorce me).

6. I want the boat to provide the most fun sailing as possible. I don't want to suffer but only need basic comforts since I will be on the boat at the most two weeks at a time.

7. Of the new boats to satisfy the above parameters, I like the idea of:

A. JPK 38 FC

B. Pogo 30, or Pogo 36 or Pogo 12.5

C. RN 10.70 or RN 12.70

8. I like the above a boats because they are built to cross oceans, are fun and lively to sail, have enough basic comfort, require relatively low maintenance, have a retracting keel and seem to hold their value.

9. The Pogos have enough foam in different places that they are apparently "unsinkable".

10. My concern about the above boats is they cannot point as high as many boats and are uncomfortable going to weather in any kind of chop. But with the above you can sail less close as needed and they will make up and more what you gave up sailing less close when the wind is on the beam or behind the beam. However, sometimes you have no choice but to pinch as much as possible.

Given the above parameters what new or used boat do you think would be best and why?

For any experienced sailors that have been following this string, and would like to join me, I have chartered a Pogo 30 based in Le Marin, Martinique for 7 full days, 8 nights, Jan 18-26. PM me and I can provide info or look in this forum under crew wanted. A Pogo 30 will really be fun transiting either north to Dominica and Guadalupe or south to San Lucia and the Grenadines.

[rasher]

I'm very curious to hear about your experience on that Pogo 30 out of Martinique. The wifey and I are looking at that same boat/company for our next charter.

We have similar interests as you (sailing fun, performance, easy maintenance, KISS) and have shortened down to a similar list. Our biggest difficulty with the French boats (Pogo, RM) is finding anybody in this hemisphere that knows anything about them and certainly there aren't any dealers or brokers that know them.

While you're looking at high performance racer/cruisers in the 30-40 foot range, check out the following:
Ofcet 32
Django 9.8
Melango 1088
Italia 9.98
As these boats are also on my list.

On this side of the pond, the only manufacturer that's gonna give that same sailing feeling promised by the Pogo and RM is J Boats and you'll find LOTS of people who know those boats. In fact, the wife and I have pretty much settled on J for our first cruiser simply because it's going to be easier to get service and support in USA. J/120 is our preferred vessel with the J/42 and possibly the J/40 as our fallback. My understanding is that while Js don't plane, they do go to wind very well.

We've been window shopping for our "getaway" boat from beautiful landlocked Missouri now for about 4 years and we've been through EVERYTHING mentioned in this thread from Pacific Seacraft to Hylas to a new Beneteau, to a cheap used Beneteau, etc etc and after 5 years of lake racing we know now that sailing performance and fun on the water is more important than anything else to us. Thus our current list (J Boats, Pogo, JPK, etc)

[Augi]

Originally Posted by rasher

I'm very curious to hear about your experience on that Pogo 30 out of Martinique. The wifey and I are looking at that same boat/company for our next charter.

We have similar interests as you (sailing fun, performance, easy maintenance, KISS) and have shortened down to a similar list. Our biggest difficulty with the French boats (Pogo, RM) is finding anybody in this hemisphere that knows anything about them and certainly there aren't any dealers or brokers that know them.

While you're looking at high performance racer/cruisers in the 30-40 foot range, check out the following:
Ofcet 32
Django 9.8
Melango 1088
Italia 9.98
As these boats are also on my list.

On this side of the pond, the only manufacturer that's gonna give that same sailing feeling promised by the Pogo and RM is J Boats and you'll find LOTS of people who know those boats. In fact, the wife and I have pretty much settled on J for our first cruiser simply because it's going to be easier to get service and support in USA. J/120 is our preferred vessel with the J/42 and possibly the J/40 as our fallback. My understanding is that while Js don't plane, they do go to wind very well.

We've been window shopping for our "getaway" boat from beautiful landlocked Missouri now for about 4 years and we've been through EVERYTHING mentioned in this thread from Pacific Seacraft to Hylas to a new Beneteau, to a cheap used Beneteau, etc etc and after 5 years of lake racing we know now that sailing performance and fun on the water is more important than anything else to us. Thus our current list (J Boats, Pogo, JPK, etc)

Yes. In some respects you are going to be on your own, if you own the type of boats we are discussing in North America. A J Boat is a good choice if that aspect is important. Before deciding test out a Pogo 12.5.

A Pogo 12.5 might have the best set of trade offs for you and your wife. In terms of space in the cockpit and below a 12.5 is more like a 50 foot Beneteau or similar. A Pogo 12.5 sails pretty flat.

The lack of support is another reason to keep it as simple as possible and go as small as you can live with in terms of comfort. The truth is unless you are going to be on board at least several months a year owning a boat does not make much logical sense anyway, unless you enjoy tinkering and always having a to do list of repairs and maintenance.

Another charter company that offers boats in this same vein is Fastsailing – Unique sailing in magic seas… in Greece!. They have two bases in Greece.

I am going to take my time, and enjoy the process of checking out the different choices available that fit my parameters and intended use.

Who knows maybe an older Beneteau is the way I will go. Or I will always charter. Or rent a fractional share of a Beneteau through SailTime for 12 months at a time. The SailTime concept has the advantage that during the 12 month contract you always sail the actual same boat, like owning, but don't have the headaches of the maintenance and depreciation. With SailTime you could change your base annually.

Another way to go is join one of the many sailing clubs located on SF Bay. I have not checked but just guessing similar clubs probably exist in the Pacific Northwest and New England.

There is always Moorings or Dream Yachts.

For thrills you can go with a Corsair.

Being a happy boat owner is similar to being happily married. It helps a lot if you can feel like you have still won when you lose. In other words if you are fortunate enough to be able own a yacht you have already won. Headaches and problems related to a boat are "rich guy" issues.

A good woman is an amazing creature. Women are a fair amount of trouble. But if you choose a good one and take care of her she will be there in spades when the chips are down not unlike a good boat.

[LargeMarge]

Rent. Charter. Share. Crew.

Based on your information (and spouse), why own? The numbers aren't there.

[Augi]

Originally Posted by LargeMarge

Rent. Charter. Share. Crew.

Based on your information (and spouse), why own? The numbers aren't there.

Agreed. It is not very logical per my parameters. As I mentioned I may not ever buy a boat. Getting married made no sense either. But I am glad I did. It was the best decision I ever made. Buying a sail boat you can sleep on is more similar to getting married than anything else I can think of. I guess that is why boats are always referred to as "she".

[Otia]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

An Oyster 53.

Why stop there? Oyster 72... lol

[Boatguy30]

Based on your very exact specifications, you are a very particular type of guy.

Another guy I know like that is 1/2 way thru a solo circumnavigation on a Pogo 12ish meter. So that's the answer.

[Augi]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Based on your very exact specifications, you are a very particular type of guy.

Another guy I know like that is 1/2 way thru a solo circumnavigation on a Pogo 12ish meter. So that's the answer.

As mentioned I am chartering a Pogo 30 out of La Marin, Martinique to see if it is big enough and to see how she sails, closed hauled in a chop and motoring to weather in a chop. If a Pogo 30 is not big enough or can't sail comfortably or motor comfortably close to the wind I will try a Pogo 36 and JPK 38 FC. A JPK 38 FC apparently is better suited for going to weather. But I am not buying anything without sailing on it for a week in different conditions simulating as much as possible my intended use.

Hopefully, a Pogo 30 will do the trick in my case. Smaller and less complicated means more time on the water sailing rather than depending on finding crew and doing maintenance and repairs. I will be typically double handed so a Pogo 30 ought to work in terms of comfort. There are no used Pogo 36's or JPK 38 FC's for sale and the wait list for new is 1.5-2 years I think. There are used Pogo 12.5's for sale.

If your friend doing the circumnavigation on a Pogo 12.5 is following the trade winds then he does not have to sail to weather much, the weaker point of sail for a Pogo.

[Paul J. Nolan]

The best boat for you to buy is a Snipe. Learn to sail her, then learn to race her, then race her until you achieve some success, then come back here. That would be in the 2022-2024 timeframe.

Paul

[Training Wheels]

Perfecto!